Swimmers head to Olympic Trials

The 18-year-old swimmer aims to use experience of 2008 this year.

Harper Bruens is competing in the 50 freestyle in the Olympic Trials. (Bill Ingram )

June 21, 2012|By Dieter Kurtenbach, Sun Sentinel

Lindsey McKnight knows what to expect from the USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials, starting Monday in Omaha, Neb.

But no one, including herself, is quite sure what to expect from McKnight.

The soon-to-be Florida Gator freshman and recent American Heritage alum is one of four St. Andrew's Club swimmers heading to Omaha, but in 2012 she heads to the trials (which run through July 2) as a legitimate contender.

That was not the case in 2008, when a 14-year-old McKnight qualified for the nation's best meet in the 200-meter individual medley.

"I was really young, just going for the experience. It's going to be totally different this time," McKnight said.

McKnight was the third-youngest competitor in the 200 IM in 2008, and finished in 93rd place.

Her goal wasn't to make the Olympics as a high school freshman. She went to the trials because she could. In the process, she learned a few things that put her back on the same pool deck four years later.

"Four years ago, I didn't realize how close so many girls are to me," McKnight said. "Once I went to trials, I found out that one little thing goes wrong and that's your whole race."

McKnight competed in one event four years ago, and four years of maturity has increased her 2012 Olympic Trial workload to four races. McKnight will compete in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter individual medley events.

But those four years didn't necessarily mean progress for McKnight.

McKnight hit a "rut" after going two minutes-flat in the 200-meter freestyle at age 15. If McKnight were to have continued to improve, she would have put herself among the national elite — but her progress stalled.

Earlier this year, McKnight made a change, switching to St. Andrew's club team. Soon, McKnight was able to get back to her two-flat time.

The 200-freestyle is McKnight's best event. That two-minute time got her to Omaha, but to get to London, she'll have to find a few more seconds to shave.

"She still needs a significant drop," McKnight's club coach Sid Cassidy said. "But crazy things happen at Olympic Trials. There's always a favorite who doesn't make it, and an unknown who surprises everyone. She has put herself in a position to be that girl."

"I've heard that a million times from a million coaches," McKnight quipped.

McKnight isn't setting herself up for disappointment. Her goal is not London, though she obviously isn't against the idea.

"I'm confident that come trials, I should be able to drop 2-3 seconds," McKnight said. "I swim better under pressure."

McKnight is shooting for a berth in the semifinals in Omaha, because, as she says, once in the semifinals, anything can happen.

The U.S. takes six freestylers in both the 100- and 200-meter disciplines to fill out relay teams.

"The odds are in your favor," McKnight said. "Once you make it into the final [top-eight] you just have to beat two others.

"I'm going up against 25-year-old professionals. Their lives revolve around swimming. I'm close to that point — it's kind of surreal."